Mining stall loading machines



J. QUONIAM MINING STALL LOADING MACHINES Oct, 28, 1958 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 17, 1956 Oct. 28, 1958 J. QUONIAM MINING STALL LOADING MACHINES 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 17, 1956 Oct. 28, 1958 J. QUONIAM 2,858,005

MINING STALL LOADING MACHINES 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 17, 1956 A Q/ w. v

Oct. 28, 1958. J. QUONIAM MINING sum. LOADING MACHINES 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 17, 1956 ill\\ I J. QUONIAM MINING STALL LOADING MACHINES Oct 28, 1958 Filed April 17, 1956 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 8 8 mm mm 3 n .II. n w. I. v m H|| I m l. .l. i! wH w H. l mm WM |.I 1. 1 QIMNIHY r l .1 mm am Oct. 28, 1958 J. QUONIAM 2,858,005

MINING STALL LOADING MACHINES Filed April 17, 1956 a Sheets-Sheet e Oct. 28, 1958 i J. QUONIAM 2,858,005

' MINING STALL LOADING MACHINES Filed April 17, 1956 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 Fig. 8a

Oct, 28, 1958 J QUONIAM 2,858,005

MINING STALL LOADING MACHINES Filed April 17, 1956 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 m o wk 9m 1 qmw United States Patent MINING STALL LOADING MACHINES Jean Quoniam, Heinitz, Sarre, France, assignor to Saarbergwerke, Saarehrnck, Sarre, France Application April 17, 1956, Serial No. 578,705 Claims priority, application France May 20, 1955 5. Claims. (Cl. 198-7) My present invention has for its object a machine. with a high yield adapted to load the cut coal or the like roughly. disaggregated material, said machine progressing along a stall that is being undercut and is separated from the material exhausting means, for instance a protected or belt conveyor, by a line of pit-props.

Most loading machines proposed hitherto and tested in elongated galleries do not allow other supporting means than those used for cutting along a free face because such loading'machines move over the material exhausting means or over the ground ina gallery parallel with the latter, which is not separated from the material to be loaded by a line of pit-props.

Certain prior loading machines are constituted by a frame resting on the ground through the agency of shoes or caterpillars and provided at its front end with a chaincarrying collecting head mounted in overhanging relationship on said frame through the agency of a vertical pivoting. connectiom which allows the-head to sweep horizontally over the cutting area and to shift the material to be loaded towards the front of the frame while, on the other hand, said frame is provided with a stationary chain-operated loading arm acting in a direction. per-' pendicular to the progression of the frame and extend ing laterally of the latter above the edge of the material exhausting means, said arm collecting the material fed toit. by the chains on the above mentioned head and pouring it. onto the material-exhausting means.

Now, for various reasons, which will. be apparent to anyone skilled in the mining technique, it may be of interest to .providetfor conventional supporting means as :used

before the introduction of the free face method, which sup porting meansincludea line of pit-props separating the cutting gallery from the material-exhausting means.

Now, the .loadingsmachines of the above referred to type cannot be used in such a case, byreason of the lateral projection of the loading arm.

It is thereforenecessary, withsuch mining methods,

to design a loading; machine including obviously thesamechiefmeans for gathering and loading; the material but the structure ofwhich should be consistent with-the presence of "a line of'mine-props between the cutting road and the material-exhausting means.

Thespresent inventionhas for its object such a load ing machine, whichincludes aplurality of essential novel features which are as follows:

Theiirst of thesefeatures consists in'the provision of a loading arm adapted tto slide horizontally andtransversely. with-reference to the frame, whileits'bulk does not extend beyond the transverse width oftheframe and is furthermore clearly more narrow than the minimum free space leftbetween two successive. pit-props of the line of pit-props, said arm being collapsible whenmequired .Witlnreference to said lineofmine-propsflat the moment of the progression of the frame. after 1 which it is returned into its operativeposition.between the twofole lowing pit-or mine-props.

But, on the other hand, with the loading machines of a known type, advancing the machine through hauling along an anchored cable or along a chain is per se a difficult operation by reason of the weight of said machine and the mere incorporation of the sliding arm of the type referred to increases the weight of the machine and makes the progress still more diflicult. This leads to the necessity, in accordance with the second essential feature of the invention of providing a special pivotal connection between the frame and the collecting head controlling the horizontal sweeping of the cutting area through said head, said pivotal connection being onthe one hand mounted on an arrangement longitudinally slidable on the frame over a length which is equal at least to the interval between the axes of two successive pit-props while it includes furthermore a pivot which allows the collecting head provided consequently with carrier shoes to rest directly on the ground. The conventional overhanging suspension of the collecting head is done away with and the progression of the loading machine after collapsing ofthe loading arm may then be executed readily in two stages, firstly through progression of the frame while the collecting head remains stationary and then through progression of the collecting head, each of said operations corresponding only to the progression of a'weight which is much smaller than that of any known prior loading'machine.

However, there is a further difficulty which resides in executed with a conventional collecting head by reason of the length of the collecting chains which do not leave a sufiicient space for the independent advancement of the frame. Itisthus necessary to resort to a third advantageous feature according to which the collecting chains are subdivided into two successive groups of chains of which one is formed by material gathering chains of a reduced length which are located at the sweeping end of the collecting head while the other or auxiliary chains are carried by an auxiliary arm pivotally secured to the middle ofthe collecting head and angularly shiftable in a horizontal plane with perpendicular thereto so as to clear. enough space to allow the independent progressive of the frame.

This progression being obtained, the individual progression of the collecting head is proceeded with, so asto shift the material-engaging chains and the auxiliary arm away from the frame and, this second stage being executed, the auxiliary arm is returned into alignment with the collecting head and the loading-arm is caused to project laterally between. the pit-props so thatthe loading work may be resumed. One. operates par pit-prop until the cutting road is cleared.

The invention will be more clearly understood by the following description of a preferred. embodiment of the invention, reference being made to theaccompanying drawings wherein:

Figs. 1 to 5illustrate the stages of the operative cycle of a loading machine according to my invention, operating in a coal cutting road.

Fig. 6a is a side elevation view of the machine, accord ing to the present invention.

Fig. 6b is a plan view of the forward end of the machine, according to the invention, and shows the assembly of ma-. terial handling chains comprising the collectinghead and the associated conveying means movable transversely to the machine.

Fig. 6c is a vertical cross section taken along section lines X X1, X2 X3, X4--X5 Of A Fig. 7a is a vertical view-of themachine showing the general arrangement the material collecting head.

lecting chains shown in Fig. 7 a.

reference to said head until it is thus pit-prop.

ofethe material engaging chains of i s. 7d and 7e are plan views on a reduced scale of indi- I Fig. 8c is a plan view of the ivot l i Fig 8b p a mount shown in I Fig. 8d is a plan view of the housing for the pivotal bear ng mount shown in Fig. 8c.

F g. Se is a elevation sectional view of the housing shown in Fig. 8d.

Fig. 8f is a side elevation cross sectional view of the frame guideway in which the housing shown in Fig. 8e moves and shows its two outermost positions of travel.

Fig. 8g 18 a fragmentary plan view of the main support frame of the apparatus showing the transverse conveyor means in ts normal inoperative position.

Fig. 8h is a fragmentary plan view of the main support frame of the apparatus shown in Fig. 8g with the conveyor means at its outermost operative position.

Figs. 9a to 9d are cross section views taken at the axes of the various gears shown in Fig. 6b and show the driving means for the material-engaging chains and auxiliary arm and associated auxiliary chains.

In all said figures, the reference number 1 desi nates the frame of the loading machine mounted preferably on shoes and carrying the different conventional motors and hauling arrangements together with a number of novel parts to be described hereinafter with reference to Fig. 6. The reference number 2 designates the collecting head carrying a group of material-engaging chains, the path followed by which is shown at 3. The collecting head is pivotally secured at 4, to a carrier sliding in the longitudinal slideway 5 mounted axially on the frame.

The auxiliaryarm 6 is pivotally secured at 7 to the collecting head and underneath the latter and it carries a group of auxiliary chains illustrated at 8.

The reference number 9 designates the loading arm sliding horizontally and transversely over the front part of the chassis. Arrows show the direction of movement of the different chains for the direction of operation in the gallery illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5.

The reference number 10 designates the material-exhausting means and each small square such as 11 illustrates a pit-prop. The reference number 12 designates the mass of material which has not yet been cut while the reference number 13 designates the hewn material to be loaded on the material-exhausting means. Fig. 1 shows a loading machine according to the invention at the end of an on erative cycle and at the beginning of the following cycle. Fig. 2 illustrates the first stage of said cycle during which the collecting head is turned towards the wall of the coal mass while the auxiliary arm is set perpendicularly to the collecting head and the loading arm is collapsed out of the way of the pit-props. Nothing prevents now the independent progression of the frame 1 towards the material to be collected and loaded.

In Fig. 3, said progression is shown as executed without any further modification in the position of the components of the machine except for the sliding of the collecting head with reference to the frame. In Fig. 4, the machine is shown after a forward progression of the collecting head, after a return of the auxiliary arm into its operative position and after reengagement of the loading arm in the interval between two pit-props. The different chains are now operated and the sweeping of the cut material may begin.

In Fig. 5, the sweeping referred to is ended and the relative positionof the parts is again the same as in the case illustrated in Fig. 1.

The invention will now be described with further detail,

the essential features referred to hereinabove being now disclosed more fully, reference being made to Figs. 611-60, 7a7e and 8a to 8h which as already mentioned illustrate only a nonlimiting embodiment of a loading machine according to the invention.

In said Figs. 6a and 6c are shown, the frame 1, the collecting head 2, the pivotal connection 4, the sliding support means 5, the auxiliary arm 6, the pivot 7 for said auxiliary arm end the loading arm or conveyor means 9 slidable transversely on the front end of the frame.

The loading arm 9 includes a body 14 sliding along the slideway 15. The setting of said arm into its operative and collapsed positions is controlled hydraulically through the cylinder and piston system 16; the body 14 of the loading arm encloses the independent motor controlling the loading chains 17 moving over a guiding support 18 arranged almost vertically.

The outline of the guiding support is such that, when in its operative position, the chain 17 sweeps the ground throughout the major part of its lower strand and rises thenafter as it returns towards the material-exhausting means and it finally projects slightly over the edge of the latter. The return of the chain 17 is performed over the upper section of its guiding support. The almost vertical setting of the latter forms an important feature of the invention and its objects is to constrain the loading chain to operate between two pit-props while providing a maximum clearance for the passage of the coal carried along, in order that said clearance may always remain at a maximum, said vertical setting is associated with a springcarried floating suspension which is not illustrated for the slideway 15 over the frame 1. It is thus possible to easily adjust the positioning of the frame 1 in a manner such that when it enters its operative position, the

loading arm may be slightly shifted by the rear pit-prop and is held in contact with said pit-prop during operation as allowed by the elasticity of the floating suspension provided.

As to the connection between the frame and the collecting head, it is apparent from inspection of Figs. 6a, 7a, 8a to 8 that the connection 4 between the frame and the collecting head includes in addition to the conventional vertical pivotal axis, a cylindrical bearing 19 form ing a horizontal transverse pivotal connection which allows the collecting head to move angularly in a vertical plane with reference to the frame. The collecting head is no longer held in overhanging relationship by the frame and it rests mainly on the shoes 20, 21 and 22 mounted on hydraulic jacks and forming a triangular base similar to the wall known supporting means constituted by three screws and surrounding the vertical line passing through the center of gravity of the collecting head. The operation of the corresponding jacks allows adjusting the height of the collecting chains with reference to ground and chiefly relieving the connection 4 if required at the moment of the independent progression of the frame.

The independent progression of the frame is allowed by reason of the fact that the connection 4 including the horizontal pivotal bearing 19 is adapted to slide over the slideway 15 arranged axially of the frame 1 and this sliding movement is adjusted and controlled hydraulically through two cylinder and piston systems 24 and 23 fitted in the right hand side and in the left hand side of the frame respectively. For the independent progression of the frame, the pressure in said cylinders is released while they are subjected to pressure after said progression so as to produce the independent progression of the collect ing head.

Figures 8a to 8] show in detail the structure of the articulation at the joint, the support of which, is slidable longitudinally on the frame. Fig. 8a is a side elevation view showing the pivotal bearing 19 in the upper part of which the connection means 4 is engaged. Fig. 8b shows the same articulation illustrated in a side or end View perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the collecting head, passing through the axis of the horizontal pivotal bearing 19, an axis which is at the same time the vertical pivotal axis of the joint. Fig. 8c shows this horizontal pivotal bearing 19 seen from above.

Figs. 8d and 8e, respectively show, in plan and in a vertical cross section, across the longitudinal axis of the frame, the support 50 in the shape of a parallelepiped rectangle in which it engages from above the horizontal pivotal bearing 19.

Finally, Fig. 8 illustrates in a vertical cross section view through the longitudinal axis of the frame, the two extreme positions 50a and 50b limiting the displacement in the frame of said support 50 and consequently, in view of this, the displacement with respect to the frame of the articulation at the joint connecting the collecting head with the frame. As has been explained previously, the path permitted for this parallelepiped support must be greater than the maximum clearance of the two props near the line of props separating the loading machine from the material conveyor means moving the material away from the work area.

In Figs. 6a, 6b, 60, 7a, to 7e and 8a, it can be seen that the collecting head is equipped with chains, a group of which is comprised of the chains having reference numbers 33 to 38, and serves the purpose of engaging the material, directly, however, without bringing it within the radius of the chain 18 of the loading arm 14. The material is brought within the radius of the said loading chain 18 by means of the auxiliary chain 40 disposed on the auxiliary arm 6. It can therefore readily be seen that the invention is independent of the number of material-engaging chains, and those of the auxiliary chains of intermediate transfer and final transfer.

The carcase of the collecting head includes at 25 the motor controlling all the material-engaging and auxiliary chains through the agency of suitable speed reducing gears such as 26, 27, 28, 29 and 3t), controlling the vertical shaft 31 carrying the bosses driving the material-engaging chains without any auxiliary chain following their movement, while in the case illustrated the lower material-engaging chain 33 associated operatively with the chain on the auxiliary arm 6 is driven by the boss 32. The number and the individual linear speed of the material-engaging chains are selected in accordance with the operative height of the machine and the nature of the material to be collected. In the example illustrated in Fig. 6, there are six material-engaging chains designated by the reference numbers 33 to 38 when considered from top to bottom. The free space left between the material-engaging chains and the loading chain 18 is closed by a vertical screening sheet 39 axially rigid with the auxiliary arm 6 and extending above the auxiliary chain 40 operating at ground level and setting when operative the material within reach of the chain on the collecting arm 9.

The auxiliary arm 6 is adapted to pivot round the vertical shaft 41 carrying the driving boss for the auxiliary chain 40, which shaft is controlled through the gears 42 and 43. The pivotal movement of the auxiliary arm round the spindle 41 is obtained through the agency of the tooth sector 52 of the pinion 44, of the shaft 46, of the pinion 45 and of the rack 47 which is controlled hydraulically. It will be readily ascertained that when the auxiliary arm 6 is in its operative position, i. e. substantially aligned with the axis of the collecting arm, the coal collected by the material-engaging chains abuts against the screen plate 39 and the auxiliary chain 40 and is taken up by said chain 40 which feeds in its turn the loading chain 17 on the loading arm.

Obviously, the invention is independent of the structural details described and of the control means disclosed for the different movable parts and it covers all loading machines falling within the scope of the accompanying claims and showing at least part of the essential features g referred to at the begining of the specification and it also covers the different novel features of the machine illus trated in Fig. 6.

What I claim is:

1. In a loading apparatus for mines comprising the combination of a frame, first conveyor means disposed transversely to the frame and selectively sluable substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of the frame for insertion between and withdrawal from between mine props, material-gathering means slidably guided on said frame for selective longitudinal movement relative to the frame and pivotally mounted thereon for selective angular movement for gathering broken mined material, second conveyor means cooperating with said materialgathering means for transferring gathered mined material from said material-gathering means to said first conveyor means thereby to deliver it at a point along side the apparatus, and motive means for selectively advancing the frame together with and independently of the material-gathering means.

2. In a loading apparatus for mines comprising, the combination of a frame, first conveyor means disposed transversely to the frame and selectively sluable substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of the frame for insertion between and withdrawal from between mine props, material-gathering means comprising a main arm slidably guided on said frame for selective longitudinal movement relative to the frame and pivotally mounted thereon for selective angular movement and carrying a material-gathering head for gathering broken mined material, second conveyor means cooperating with said material-gathering means for transferring gathered mined material from said material-gathering head to said first conveyor means thereby to deliver it at a point alongside the apparatus, and motive means for selectively advancing the frame together with and independently of the material-gathering means.

3. In a loading apparatus for mines comprising the combination of a frame, first conveyor means disposed transversely to the frame and selectively sluable substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of the frame for insertion between and withdrawal from between mine props, material-gathering means comprising a main arm slidably guided on said frame for selective longitudinal movement relative to the frame and pivotally mounted thereon for selective angular movement and carrying a material-gathering head for gathering broken mined material, second conveyor means cooperating with said material-gathering means for transferring gathered mined material from said material-gathering means to said first conveyor means thereby to deliver it at a point alongside the apparatus, and motive means for selectively advancing the frame together with and independently of the material-gathering means, said second conveyor means being pivotally mounted on said main arm and selectively movable from an inoperative position substantially normal to the main arm through a range of operative positions from a position substantially parallel to the main arm to a position corresponding to said inoperative position.

4. In a loading apparatus for mines comprising the combination of a frame, first conveyor means disposed transversely to the frame and selectively sluable substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of the frame for insertion between and withdrawal from between mine props, material-gathering means including a main arm slidably guided on said frame for selective longitudinal movement relative to the frame and pivotally mounted thereon for selective angular movement and carrying a material-gathering head comprising a plurality of vertically arranged material-gathering chains for gathering broken mined material, second conveyor means cooperating with said material-gathering head for transferring gathered mined material from said material-gathering head to said first conveyor means thereby to deliver it at a point alongside the apparatus, and motive means arm.

5. In a loading apparatus according to claim 4, in which said second conveyor means comprises an auxiliary arm pivotally mounted on said main arm and provided with auxiliary material-handling chains for transferring the gathered material from the material-gathering head to the first conveyor in any operative position of said main arm and material-gathering head.

References Cited in the file of this patent FOREIGN PATENTS France Nov. 25, 1953 

